Come Down, O Love Divine

Hymn lyrics and .mp3 Download

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1. Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine, and visit it with thine own ardor glowing; O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

2. O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

3. And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long, shall far outpass the power of human telling; for none can guess its grace, till Love create a place wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Words by: Bianco of Siena;
trans. by Richard F. Littledale
Music by: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Story of the hymn Come Down, O Love Divine

"Come Down, O Love Divine" is a deeply spiritual hymn that traces its origins to the 14th century, penned by Bianco da Siena, an Italian mystic and poet born around 1350 in Tuscany.
He was a member of the Jesuati, a lay religious order devoted to simplicity, service, and contemplation. Bianco wrote over 90 devotional poems known as laudi spirituali, which were rich in mystical imagery and passionate longing for divine presence.

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The original Italian text, Discendi, amor santo, is a fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit to descend and ignite the soul with divine love. It speaks of purification, humility, and transformation—asking for earthly passions to be consumed by holy fire and for the soul to be clothed in charity and lowliness

In 1867, Anglican priest Richard Frederick Littledale translated four stanzas into English, preserving the hymn’s mystical tone and theological depth
Then in 1906, composer Ralph Vaughan Williams set the text to the tune DOWN AMPNEY, named after his birthplace. The pairing of Bianco’s impassioned plea with Vaughan Williams’ solemn melody gave the hymn enduring power and beauty

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Today, "Come Down, O Love Divine" is especially beloved in Pentecost services, where its invocation of the Holy Spirit resonates deeply. It’s sung across denominations and continues to inspire worshippers with its timeless message of inner renewal and divine indwelling